Chapter 36

If Kylo had the ability to freeze time, he would live in this moment for eternity. The joy he experienced waking next to Rey was an emotion so strong that he could feel the shape and color of it. Joy was warm and bright and bursting from his chest.

He had awoken because his little scavenger was gently snoring. It wasn't constant but it was definitely more than a purr. She also had a little drool pooling in the corner of her mouth and her hair looked like a rathtar nest. In short, she was perfect. So perfect, that Kylo decided that she could keep sleeping.

Rising gently from the bed, he smiled when Rey rolled into his warm spot and released another inelegant purr.

Striding naked out of the room, he grabbed the pair of pants he had discarded last night and entered the living room. He kept the door open because he could not tear his eyes off of the sight of her sleeping sated in his bed but he had an empire to oversee.

Picking up his communicator he was pleased to see that rey's gift had arrived. She wasn't ready to view it as a gift yet but it pleased him nonetheless that the child molester who had marked her had been delivered to his dungeon. While Kylo would have liked to oversee the monster's torure personally, Rey was not ready to face the man yet and Kylo was very serious that they would not be parted. One of the other knights would have to take the lead until Rey was ready to exact her revenge.

Just the thought of Rey torturing the man brought a smile to his lips. It was a good thing that a droid delivered their breakfast. No officer of the First Order would know what to make out of a grinning Kylo Ren.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, Kylo indulged in looking at Rey as he scrolled through his urgent messages. There was something so peaceful about having her here as she should be but Kylo was not a total fool. He knew that last night could not completely win Rey over to his side but she had seen him, seen every bloody and bruised part of his psyche and not only had she accepted it, she had embraced him.

It was a monumental step forward and more than deserving of a little smugness on his part. Still, he needed to proceed carefully. One good lay, and it was very good, would not be enough to ensure her undying loyalty.

No longer content to watch her from afar, Kylo set down his communicator and made his way back to the bedroom. Sliding next to her on the bed, he brushed a large piece of hair off of her face before biting lightly on her shoulder.

Rey's purr came to an abrupt snort and her eyes flew open. She sat up ramrod straight and flushed a very pretty shade of pink. Kylo had never been fond of the color before but watching Rey, it was quickly becoming one of his favorites.

He took it as an encouraging sign that she didn't rush to cover herself with the sheet. Reaching out with the force, he couldn't sense any doubt or anger from her. He couldn't detect that she was ashamed or regretful about what they had shared. Still, he needed to take command of the situation.

"Come, you must be hungry. I had the droids bring in extra portions today."

Sliding out from the bed, he grabbed his discarded shirt off of the floor and tossed it to her before striding out of the room without looking back. Rey caught the garment and stared at it only momentarily before sliding out of the bed and following him into the dining room.

She sat silently surveying the breakfast spread while Kylo poured himself another coffee.

"Would you like some?"

Rey pulled one of her legs up onto the chair with her. She was practically swimming in his shirt and she had not even bothered to run her hands through her hair. Rey seemed to be lost in thought as she continued to stare at the food in front of her.

"Rey," he insisted.

That seemed to do the trick. Rey's eyes flashed to his and she replied yes before launching herself into the spread. Kylo took note that she really favored the savory bread from before. She took several slices before glancing up at him and asking if he wanted any.

"By all means, it is yours." Kylo hid his smirk by taking a sip of his coffee.

Rey ate in silence for several minutes before putting down her bread and turning to face him.

"So what now?"

Kylo raised an eyebrow as if he didn't know what she was referring to.

"Seriously, what now? I don't know what to do with all of this," she stated while waving her hand in between them both.

"There is nothing to do," he stated simply.

Knowing that that response would likely infuriate her, Kylo expanded.

"The parameters of your punishment have not changed. You are still bound to me and will remain with me at all times."

Kylo could see that she was really getting worked up but he plowed on.

"I would say that last night meant more to me than you know but you have been in my mind Rey. I exposed every aspect of who I am to you. You know exactly what it meant to me."

At that, Rey glanced down onto her lap and blushed again.

"But I am not some besotted teenager, willing to throw away everything that I have worked for. I rule this galaxy and will continue to do so. You will remain with me but the role that you chose to play depends largely on you. You can fight me or work with me. The choice is yours but you need to understand that those are the only options available to you."

"You can't possibly imagine that this could ever work," she said in disbelief.

Kylo sighed as if disappointed. "You know that not only do I believe it, deep down you do too."

"You came to me last night and it meant something to you too. No, I am not so naive to think that you would wake up this morning ready to embrace who we are to one another but I know you too. You would have never given that part of yourself to me if some part of you didn't recognize me as your other half."

Finished with his breakfast and finished with this conversation he rose from his chair and held his hand out to her. She regarded it cooly before seeming to decide it was not worth the fight and placed her hand in his. Kylo pulled her to her feet and started walking to the bedroom.

Rey's pace noticeably slowed when he kept going into the bathroom. Glancing over his shoulder, he favored her with a lopsided grin.

"Don't tell me you are bashful now," he teased.